Palestine: Israeli diggings under the Aqsa & 165 new units in Jerusalem

Report: Israeli diggings reached a depth of four meters under the Aqsa Mosque

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)– The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) admitted that its excavations beneath the Aqsa Mosque and in its vicinity have extended four meters deep, according to a circular released on Wednesday by the Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage.

The Aqsa foundation said that Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper published on its website on Tuesday on the anniversary of the so-called temple destruction a report including details about the diggings taking place beneath the foundations of the Aqsa Mosque, especially near the western wall and Al-Maghariba Gate.

Eli Shukron, a senior official from the Israeli antiquities authority, stated in this report that the diggings have reached depths of three to four meters under the Aqsa Mosque’s foundations, particularly beneath the Mosque’s western wall and its Islamic museum.

The report also included a video recording showing holes and a cave in the excavated areas, while Shukron claimed them to be the remains of an old Jewish neighborhood.

The Aqsa foundation, in turn, described such Israeli claims as lies and warned of their serious impacts on the future of the Aqsa Mosque and its existence.

It stressed that the whole Aqsa Mosque compound with its western wall is an Islamic holy site belonging to only Muslims and the claim about the presence of Hebrew remains under its foundations is an attempt to falsify the Islamic and Arab history of the holy city.

————————————————————————————

Al-Aqsa Foundation: Netanyahu promotes tourism to the alleged temple

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)– Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage confirmed that the Israeli authorities have escalated their settlement activities and promotional campaigns in Jerusalem and al-Aqsa mosque.

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads directly and indirectly these campaigns, the foundation said, pointing out to the continued and escalated break-ins to the mosque by Israeli ministers and their deputies.

The Foundation confirmed that large budgets were allocated for Judaization projects in the occupied city of Jerusalem which requires an Islamic firm position against the Israeli Judaization schemes.

The Foundation stated that Netanyahu has recently participated in an American popular television program to promote tourism to Jerusalem and the tunnels dug by the occupation under al-Aqsa mosque.

The television program has detailed explanation for the alleged Temple and tunnels under al-Aqsa mosque. Israeli “Today” Newspaper pointed out the Netanyahu has visited accompanied by his family the tunnel network under the mosque.

————————————————————————————–

Thousands flock to the Aqsa Mosque on the second Friday of Ramadan

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)– Thousands from occupied Jerusalem and West Bank and 1948-occupied territories have flocked to al-Aqsa mosque to perform the second Friday prayer in the holy month of Ramadan.

Despite the Israeli restrictions, approximately 300 thousand worshipers have performed the Friday prayer at the mosque, al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage said.

The Jerusalemite Gates of al-Sahera, Damascus, and Asbat were noticeably busiest, in addition to Salah al-Din Street.

Israeli police were stationed throughout the occupied city of Jerusalem, where they closed different streets in the city and imposed restrictions on the entry of the Palestinian worshipers who flocked to the mosque since the early morning hours.

The Israeli police have reinforced its presence at al-Aqsa gates and erected barricades at the gates of the old town.

The Foundation pointed out to al-Bayareq march that will be launched from different Palestinian villages and cities inside the Green Line to al-Aqsa mosque, stressing that it will continue to provide thousands of breakfasts in al-Aqsa Mosque.

The first Friday of Ramadan witnessed around 200 thousand Palestinians attending the Friday prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque.

————————————————————————————-

Occupation approves construction of 165 settlement units in Jerusalem

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)– The Israeli Planning and Building Committee issued on Thursday permits to build 16 settlement buildings, comprising 165 housing units, in the settlement of Neve Yaakov built on Palestinian lands in occupied Jerusalem.

Settlement expert researcher Ahmed Sab Laban explained in a press statement that the new settlement units will expand Neve Yaakov settlement toward the nearby settlement of Pisgat Ze’ev. These units will be constructed in a strategic area on the lands separating the two settlements, and aim to separate the northern borders of Jerusalem from the West Bank.

Sab Laban added that these units represent part of a larger plan to expand Neve Yaakov settlement, which was launched and approved in 2008 and provides for the construction of 393 housing units.

He also pointed out that with the beginning of 2009 the Israeli Ministry of Housing issued tenders for the construction of these units.

The researcher said that this project represents in one of its aspects a part of the policy of racial discrimination against the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The Israeli authorities do not allow Palestinians in East Jerusalem to build houses with more than four floors and refuse to issue building permits to Palestinians.

He pointed out that the occupation authorities began, in a site close to the place of constructions of the new settlement units, preparation for infrastructure for the new settlement project aimed at expanding Pisgat Ze’ev settlement towards the town of Beit Hanina by adding 625 new settlement units

————————————————————————————-

IOA extends detention of captive who was seriously injured during interrogation

ENIN, (PIC)– Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) on Thursday extended the detention of prisoner Mohammed Ahmed Zakarna, aged 37 from town of Qabatiya south of Jenin, who suffers from skull fracture sustained during interrogation about a month ago.

Local sources said that the Salem Military Court extended the detention of Zakarna for the tenth time respectively, until the trial, although he suffers from difficult health conditions due to fractures in the ribs and skull sustained during the interrogation.

Israeli special units kidnapped Zakarna on April 8 while he was returning from work.